Muscle-based movement is a hallmark of animal biology, but the evolutionary origins of myocytes are unknown. Although believed to lack muscles, sponges (Porifera) are capable of coordinated whole-body contractions that purge debris from internal water canals. This behavior has been observed for decades, but their contractile tissues remain uncharacterized with respect to their ultrastructure, regulation, and development. We examine the sponge
The contractile protein myosin
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10246992
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Invertebrate Biology
- Volume:
- 135
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1077-8306
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 3-12
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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